Having spent more time with Hitman 2 since my initial impressions piece, I can confidently say this sequel to 2016’s soft reboot is more of the same, and that is just what was required. If you were expecting IO Interactive and new publisher Warner Brothers to add new features and new mechanics, you are going to be disappointed - but that will be the only disappointment you experience because everything else has been refined and perfected.

Hitman 2 follows on from the story first hinted at in the reboot, with Agent 47 on a mission to find answers to his past, as well as to discover the identity of the mysterious client. Now, however, he is in the employ of the same organisation that he was dismantling, only this time looking to take down his former employer - the mysterious "shadow client" with ties to his past. To be honest, the story is mostly inconsequential, just as it was in the first game. This is a puzzle game, just with a murderous bent, in which Agent 47 wanders around a large map, looking for creative ways to blend in and kill his targets.



Mechanically, Hitman 2 is a near carbon copy of the first. You start off at a designated entry point, then make your way into the area of operation and wander about looking for ways to get to your target. This can be achieved by a combination of patience and awareness (or outright violence if you really want). As you roam the target area, you'll discover new areas - often guarded - but there is always a way in. The easiest route is typically to find a disguise, either lying around or worn by some unsuspecting victim. Just make sure no one spots you assaulting anyone as this'll lead to an alarm or security attempting to capture, forcing you to fight. Fights are generally not recommended as you're surprisingly weak, with only a couple of punches or bullets required to trigger a dreaded game over screen.



Disguises are not foolproof however, as specific NPCs and guards can see right through it, potentially triggering suspicion and possibly a chase or combat. You may be an elite assassin, but you can be quickly discovered and killed; patience and care are the key to success. Luckily, on easy and normal difficulties, you have three returning tools to help you out. The first is a helpful dot hanging over the head of any NPC that can pierce your disguise, allowing you to avoid them by taking an alternative path or, if they are alone, take them out and hide the body. Making a return from the divisive Hitman: Absolution is the "Instinct" skill that, with the press of a button, highlights your enemies as well as interactive objects (protip: pick up as many objects as you can as they will prove helpful somewhere down the line).

For the rest of us mere mortals, the guided mode is a more than welcomed tool and highlights the massive number of ways you can dispatch your targets.

The final returning mechanic is the opportunities system. These are conversations that you can eavesdrop on, opening up "Assassination Opportunities", effectively giving you a guided solution to killing your targets. On Professional difficulty these are disabled, and purists will want to experience Hitman 2 without this assistance. For the rest of us mere mortals, the guided mode is a more than welcomed tool and highlights the massive number of ways you can dispatch your targets.



The biggest change to this release - welcomed by many but something I was disappointed by - is that all six levels have dropped in one complete package. I enjoyed the episodic release of Hitman (2016), as it gave me more time to explore and play through the various levels, attempting to obtain all the achievements and trophies that were available for each level. As this is essentially a puzzle game, each level can be completed multiple ways, with a ranked score your ultimate reward. The non-episodic nature pushes you to rush through Hitman 2, instead of savouring all the combinations and permutations available in every level.

Each level is a wonder to behold, from the bleak, windswept prologue set in New Zealand’s Hawkes Bay, to the colourful imitation of a Grand Prix weekend in Miami, to the lush jungles of Columbia, and the teeming slums of Mumbai.

Despite that, Hitman 2 is still highly recommended. Each level is a wonder to behold, from the bleak, windswept prologue set in New Zealand’s Hawkes Bay, to the colourful imitation of a Grand Prix weekend in Miami, to the lush jungles of Columbia, and the teeming slums of Mumbai. The levels are enormous, so much so that they can be overwhelming at first, but patience and awareness (those key traits for any assassin) will get you through.

The final two levels are, admittedly, unusual. The suburbs of America make for a small and fairly boring map. The bland suburbia setting is a near-perfect imitation of reality and may be some sort of meta commentary by the developers. Alternatively, and more likely, a bland real-world setting just makes for a bland game setting. Then there's the final mission which is just, well, weird. In Hitman 2’s climax, Agent 47 is tasked with infiltrating a fantastical base for the enemy, with events serving as a thematic and narrative conclusion to his journey. That said, some odd settings don’t matter too much as you will most likely be concentrating on the task at hand – finding a quick and efficient route to your target.



The biggest issue to deal with is the release of so many different editions and release dates for Hitman 2. If, like me, you bought the Gold Edition, you could play Hitman 2 from November 9th. However, if you bought any other edition, you had to wait until November 13th. This is an increasingly common and annoying tactic used by publishers to boost "Day 1" sales and pre-orders, something that I don’t think is healthy. I basically paid an extra R500 for early access to a complete and playable game. Having said that, the Gold Edition did at least come with all levels of Hitman 2016 “remastered” for the Hitman 2 engine.

Dubious marketing aside, Hitman 2 is a worthy successor to the first reboot. While it could’ve been a meaty expansion, given the focus on refining mechanics rather than introducing new ones, it's a perfect sequel to a near-perfect game, and why would you mess with perfection?